What Does Independence Mean to You?

About This Exhibition

What does "independence" mean to you? This was the question posed to 12 American artists for the Kent Bicentennial Project in 1976 to commemorate the United States bicentennial. The participating artists are Alex Katz, Audrey Flack, Colleen Browning, Edward Ruscha, Fritz Scholder, Jacob Lawrence, Joseph Hirsch, Larry Rivers, Marisol Escobar, Red Grooms, Robert Indiana and Will Barnet. Their artworks reflect on social issues of the 1970s that, in many ways, continue to challenge us today. 

2026 will mark the United States’ 250^th anniversary, the semiquincentennial. To reflect on this date, the Alaska State Museum will ask Alaskan artists working today to respond to the same question, "What does 'independence' mean to you?" The responding artworks will be on view at the museum in the summer of 2026. The Kent Bicentennial Portfolio prints will be displayed in an adjacent gallery.

The Kent Bicentennial Portfolio was printed in an edition of 125 and given to museums across the United States including the Alaska State Museum.

Complete list of works: Will Barnet, Waiting; Colleen Browning, Union Mixer; Audrey Flack, Fourth of July Still Life; Red Grooms, Bicentennial Bandwagon; Joseph Hirsch, The Boston Tea Party; Robert Indiana, Liberty '76; Alex Katz, Washington; Jacob Lawrence, The 1920's... The Migrants Arrive and Cast their Ballots; Marisol (Escobar), Woman's Equality; Larry Rivers, An Outline of History; Ed Ruscha, America, Her Best Product; and Fritz Scholder, Bicentennial Indian.

Banner image: Jacob Lawrence. The '20's...The Migrants Cast Their Ballots (crop), 1974.